Arturo González Cruz

Arturo González Cruz (August 2, 1954 – June 19, 2024) was a Mexican politician and businessman, recognized for his term as Municipal President of the XXIII City Council of Tijuana between 2019 and 2020. During his career, he held other positions such as professor at the CETYS School of Business and Administration, director of the Tijuana Chamber of Commerce, and national president of the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism.

Biography Early years and studies González Cruz studied a bachelor's degree in business administration at the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, graduating in 1976. In the 1990s, he became professionally involved with the Tijuana Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president. In 2001, he was appointed national president of the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (CONCANACO), succeeding José Yamil Hellal Zapata. He held the position until 2003 when he was succeeded by Raúl Padilla Orozco. During his administration, he was an opponent of the tax reform that proposed to tax medicines and food with VAT. González obtained 152,633 votes, 42.45% of the total vote, and was appointed municipal president of the city council by defeating Julián Leyzaola Pérez of the PRD and Juan Manuel Gastelúm of the PAN, who placed second and third in the vote respectively.

He assumed office on October 1, 2019, succeeding Juan Manuel Gastélum Buenrostro. On October 14, 2020, he requested a leave of absence to seek the position of Governor of the State of Baja California. Once approved by the council, on October 16, he left the position of municipal president of Tijuana, which was occupied by Karla Patricia Ruiz McFarland.

Death González Cruz died on June 19, 2024 from complications arising from injuries that he had sustained in a skiing accident in California in December 2022, which had left him paralyzed. He was 69.